IMDb > Sharky's Machine (1981)
Sharky's Machine
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Sharky's Machine (1981) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
6.1/10   1,811 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Director:
Burt Reynolds
Writers:
William Diehl (novel)
Gerald Di Pego (screenplay)
Contact:
View company contact information for Sharky's Machine on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
18 December 1981 (USA) more
Genre:
Action | Crime | Drama | Thriller more
Tagline:
Nobody leans on Sharky's Machine. [Theatrical] more
Plot:
Tom Sharky is a narcotics cop in Atlanta who's demoted to vice after a botched bust. In the depths of this lowly division... more | full synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for Golden Globe. more
User Comments:
Tight story, great period soundtrack and entertaining morality play. Character actor extravaganza! more (51 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Burt Reynolds ... Sgt. Tom Sharky
Vittorio Gassman ... Victor
Brian Keith ... Papa
Charles Durning ... Friscoe
Earl Holliman ... Hotchkins
Bernie Casey ... Arch
Henry Silva ... Billy Score
Richard Libertini ... Nosh
Darryl Hickman ... Smiley

Rachel Ward ... Dominoe
Joseph Mascolo ... Joe Tipps

Carol Locatell ... Mabel
Hari Rhodes ... Highball Mary
John Fiedler ... Barrett
James O'Connell ... Twigs
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
122 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.33 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Dolby
Filming Locations:
Atlanta, Georgia, USA more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Forrest Sawyer (later of CBS, ABC, currently NBC Nightly News) briefly appears as a news announcer near the end of the film. (All of the newscasters in the film are local Atlanta newscasters.) more
Goofs:
Boom mic visible: In the end scene when Sharky is approaching the window. more
Quotes:
Dominoe: This is all you know, isn't it? Pushing, hitting, and punching! Does it make you feel good or something?
Sharky: Sometimes, yes!
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Jackie Brown (1997) more
Soundtrack:
Route 66 more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
9 out of 12 people found the following comment useful.
Tight story, great period soundtrack and entertaining morality play. Character actor extravaganza!, 13 October 2004
10/10
Author: Ricktrumpetman

The jazz soundtrack makes this seem like a Clint Eastwood movie.

In fact the whole thing strikes me as Burt doing Clint. The story is good and the movie is full of one liners that I carry with me to this day. (Reynolds to bad guy: I'm gonna pull the chain on you pal, because you're f'n up my town. And you wanna know the worst part? You're from outta state!)

Highlights: The Technics 1500B reel to reel is nice set dressing for audiophiles!

Charles Durning coming unglued while listening to wiretap tapes of prostitutes having (sort of) phone sex. (You'd have to see it, trust me, it's hilarious.)

Brian Keith plays against type as a tough guy. (And does it well!)

Bernie Casie's preoccupation with Zen.

Rachel Ward. WOW! (Where'd she go?)

Doc Severinsen and the Tonight Show band play their rears off as usual. (Joe William's guests on vocals. Manhattan Transfer re-recorded "Route 66".) The soundtrack lends class to the whole affair.

Need I say more? It might be Reynold's best film ever.

(Yeah, he plays himself, as usual, but it works!)

Enjoy!

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Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for Sharky's Machine (1981)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
'Its a rose..' gb120566
A Remake? Nooooooooooooooo! HAMMERTHROW
Miss this kind of an action movie bnkholen
cassette or cd for sound track gsmithpoa
2 Outrageous Parts to this Film (spoilers) petestubbs
Its on TV right now OEDO-UKHEH
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